On the occasion of its 70th birthday, former Bayern board chairman Rummenigge was interviewed by the Munich Evening News, in which he talked about Neuer's future, Eber's work at Bayern, and Werz's failed signings.
- About Bayern Munich's current competitive situation:
Rummeniger: "We handled it very creatively and wisely this summer in the transfer market. You can see how the team plays now, and the three important players, Musiara, Davis and Ito Yoshiki, will return soon."
"We are on the right path - if Heness gives Max Eberle some advice, I can only recommend him to adopt it. Because everything Uli does is always for the interests of Bayern Munich. This is ultimately decisive."
- About the future of the club:
Rummeniger: "The most important thing is that we will continue to make the youth training academy work. When a young player like Leonard Karl joins the team and plays such a refreshing performance, the heart of every Bayern fan will be beating."
"We have had this experience before, such as Schweinsteiger, Alaba, Bad Stuber. We have to thank Van Gaal for this. You have to have the courage to make room for the young people. I believe Kompany understands now that this is Bayern Munich's philosophy and has always been a guarantee of success."
- About Werz's failed transfer:
Rummeniger: "Werz would be very suitable for Bayern Munich. And I also think it would be better for him personally if he took the step to Munich instead of Liverpool. We respect his decision, but I feel a little regretful because he would be fully in line with Bayern's 'prey model': we always want to sign the best German player. Maybe he will think about it again one day."
- About the German national team and the 2026 World Cup:
Rummeniger: "We are still not stable enough. The most important thing is to maintain continuity. Kroos recently said that his feeling is that playing three or four good goals is enough to be a member of the national team. In my time of playing, you had to play at the top level for two years before Helmut Schön would consider inviting you. We have to go back to that era and make the national team special again - to be the most important and highly watched team in the country."
"The coach is important, no doubt, but the team is the most important. The 2026 World Cup will be very difficult, and the climate conditions are very harsh, and I have personal experience. Nagelsmann has to make the team physically at its best. With our traditional virtues, we successfully reached the final in 1986, and we were not a popular team at all."
- Regarding Neuer's possible comeback in Germany:
Rummeniger: "The decisive factor is that the one who stands on the field must be the best players - and charismatic players. In the last two games, I think this is lacking. They are all excellent footballers, but I have not seen a clear defensive leader on the field, a clear core axis."
"For example, in Bayern Munich in 2020, we have this axis: Neuer is in front of the goal, Alaba is in the back, Thiago is in the midfield, and Lewandowski is in the front line. That is the strongest Bayern Munich I have ever seen. If a team has such a main line, such a central axis, you just need to skillfully arrange others around, and the teamwork must be correct - and then you will succeed."
- About Neuer's future at Bayern after his contract expires in 2026:
Rummeniger: "I hope he can continue. But honestly: I had doubts at the beginning after he was seriously injured. Of course, it's impossible for people who are almost 40 to be as healthy as they were when they were 30. But in his current form, Manuel is an absolutely reliable defence for Bayern Munich. We have the best talent that European football can offer in the goalkeeper position. Everything he has done for the club - and what he still does to this day - is Extraordinary. "
" He took the goalkeeper to the next level. Guardiola even wanted him to play in the midfield for a while, but later he gave up the idea. Bayern Munich has always had top goalkeepers, and every successor will have to be measured by them. Whenever, Manuel will retire one day. It will be no easy task to find a goalkeeper who can fill this vacancy. This is clear today. But until then, we can thank him for the performances he has brought."